Crabwalk

Mayor to lead Honduras storm-recovery trip

Mayor Carty Finkbeiner will be spending more than a week in Honduras in late March, building roads and shelters for the victims of Hurricane Mitch.

The mayor will be leading dozens of Toledo volunteers to three cities, where they will be helping to rebuild the infrastructure the storm destroyed.

“This is what life is all about, seeing a need and attempting to fill it,” the mayor said. “It will be rigorous, difficult work, but it will make a difference.”

Mr. Finkbeiner is trying to assemble up to 100 Toledo-area residents with skills useful for rebuilding. They will be transported to Honduras, likely by military plane, around March 14.

They’ll spend two weeks working long hours, living in tough conditions, and helping to restore facilities for the people of Honduras.

“This will not be some sort of a vacation,” said Barry Broome, the city’s development director, who is coordinating the effort. “This will be hard work in a hard place.”

The city is pushing hardest to find volunteers with health care skills, particularly nurses and physician’s assistants. Officials will be working with local hospitals and health care facilities to find them, but in addition, they are asking any interested people to send their resumes to the mayor’s office.